Military court releases Worajet on bail

BANGKOK, June 18 -- A Thai military court on Wednesday granted bail to anti-coup academic Worajet Pakeerat, only a few hours after ordering him to 12 days detention.

Mr Worajet was released on condition he not take part in political gatherings or express his opinions in such a way as to incite public disorder.

He is also banned from travelling abroad unless with court permission, and was ordered to report to the court on June 29.

Bail was set at Bt20,000.

Crime Suppression Division (CSD) Deputy Commander Pol Col Prasobchoke Prommoon, heading a CSD investigation team earlier brough the Thammasat University law lecturer to the Military Court on charges of defying the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) order to report, seeking imprisonment for 12 days in the first phase.

With a straight face, the detained scholar told a group of journalists that he was not captured at the airport while returning from abroad, had asked close friends to coordinate with the authorities, informing them that he would like to turn himself in on June 16.

The court earlier approved a 12 day detention June 18-29. However, the court later granted him bail after his lawyer provided a Bt40,000 bail bond.